Automatic glue applying apparatus



Dec. 18, 1956 v. A. NELSON AUTOMATIC GLUE APPLYING APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1955 96.9 `.i8 fif' ,A A 84 98- lf "riluf $2 lll @4 INVENTOR- A 5W 1 l --l -82 Vlgfw .Nelson fig 2. gen?" Figure l;

AUTMA'IIC GLUE APPLYING APPARATUS Victor A. Nelson, Portland, Ore-g.

Application July 18, 1955, Serial No. 522,561

comms. (ci. 11s-12) r[his invention pertains to gluing apparatus, and relates particularly to apparatus for automatically applying glue in predetermined spaced positions to a continuously moving strip of material.

In many types of manufacture it is required that sections or spots of glue be applied in predetermined locations on parts of assemblies. One such type of manufacture is exemplified hereinafter, and involves the application of a carrying strap to a foldable paper carton which ultimately is employed as a container for merchandise. ln this operation it is required that patches of glue be applied to the strap adjacent the opposite ends thereof, preparatory to attachment to the carton.

Devices adapted to perform the function described above heretofore have not been completely satisfactory, primarily in two respects: First, the devices have not permitted the application of glue with the speed and precision required for high speed manufacture. Second, the construction of the gluing devices tends to allow glue to escape from the areas of application and to accumulate on sections of the product and on the surfaces of the applicator. This results in the production of an unsightly product and also requires periodic shut-down of the apparatus for cleaning.

lt is a principal object of the present invention to provide gluing apparatus which functions with speed and precision to apply precise amounts of glue to predetermined areas of a material during continuous feeding of said material.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of gluing apparatus which functions to apply a predetermined quantity of glue to a selected area and to avoid the accumulation of glue on parts of the apparatus.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide gluing apparatus which may operate in timed sequence in accordance with preceding or succeeding stages of manufacture.

Still another important object of this invention is the provision of gluing apparatus whose operation may be adjusted over a wide range to accommodate a sequence of operation corresponding to preceding or succeeding stages of manufacture.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide gluing apparatus which is of simplied construction for economical manufacture, which has a minimum of moving parts and which is maintained and adjusted with facility and precision.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying` drawings, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary view in side elevation, partly in section, showing details of construction of gluing apparatus embodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the gluing apparatus shown in Figure l, taken along the line 2-2 in nie States Patent Patented Dec. 18, 1956 iffice Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3 3 in Figure 2, and showing details of construciton by which the sequencing mechanism may be adjusted;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, foreshortened plan view illustrating the finished gluing operation upon a strip of material.

Referring particularly to Figure 1 of the drawing, the gluing apparatus of the present invention is illustrated in connection with mechanism for feeding a strip of material from a preformer to a subsequent stage, such as the attachment of the strip to a carton, as exemplified hereinbefore. The strip 10 is fed from a pre-former (not shown) downwardly between a pair of rolls 12,'14 which are mounted for rotation on shafts 16, 18, respectively, supported on a frame (not shown). Roll 14 is knurled about its circumference 20, whereby to grip the strip 10 and draw the latter downwardly between the rolls. Shaft 18 is driven from a suitable source of power (not shown). Roller 12 may rotate freely as an idler wheel, and is preferably provided with a smooth, hard circumferential surface to form a base for the cutting knife 22 which function to sever strip 10 into predetermined lengths. The Width of the knife edge is slightly less than the width of strip 10, whereby the side edges of the latter remain unsevered to provide means for pulling the strip through the gluing apparatus by the operation of subsequent apparatus.

The cutter blade is mounted adjustably in a radial slot formed Iin roller 14 and is restrained against displacement by means of the side plates 24 secured to the side surfaces of the roller by screws 26. Longitudinal adjustment of the cutter blade is afforded by means of the threaded screw 28 mounted for rotatable adjustment in a threaded opening in the roller 14. The cutter blade abuts against the threaded end 30 of the screw. A lock nut 32 may be manipulated through the opening 34 formed in the roller 14, and functions to secure the screw in the desired position of adjustment.

The strip 10 is fed from theY rollers 12, 14 through a pair of laterally spaced guide members 36, 38 which are provided on their inwardly facing sides with cooperating guide grooves 40, 42, respectively. These guide grooves are adapted to receive the lateral edges of the strap 10 and to guide the latter longitudinally through the guide members, as will be apparent.

The guide members 36, 38 preferably are mounted on the frame which supports the shaft 16, 18, and also preferably are adjustable laterally to accommodate strips 10 of varying widths. This lateral adjustment is accommodated, for example, by means of the transverse links 44 which are secured to the guide members by such means as the screws illustrated.

Mounted on the supporting frame (not shown) and positioned intermediate the ends of the guide members 36, 38 is a valve block 46. Extending inwardly from the rearward end of the block, i. e. the end opposite the guide members 36, 38, is an inlet bore 48. To thisfbore is attached an inlet tube which communicates with a supply of glue under pressure. The forward end of the bore communicates with a transverse bore 52. Within the transverse bore is an elongated valve member 54 of circular cross section, an intermediate portion 56 of which is cut away.

The valve member 54 extends laterally outward from the valve block 46 (Figure 2) and is retained within the transverse bore 52 by means of plate 5S, the forward end of which is bifurcated to provide extending ngers 60 which are engaged in an annular groove 62 formed in the Yor" the severance line Y' extending portion of the valve member54. The plate 58 is secured removably to the valve block 46 by such means as the screws V64.Y

The glue under pressure is prevented from escaping around the valve member 54 to the exterior of the valve Y block by such means as the C-ring ne..

Removably secured to the forward end lof the valve blockdo, by such means as the screwsY 68, is a glue applicator element 7i?. A forward extension 72 of the applicator element is provided withva glue'outlet slot 1i-.1 which -communicates at its inner end with the transverse bore 52. in the valve block 4o. A guide element 76 projects from the forward extension 72 in the Vdirection toward the rollers 12, Till.

.The forward extension '72 is disoosed between the l.

spaced guide members 3o, 33, with the forward end there-V of in abutment with the strip lilncontaincd within the The strap is forcedV into pressureV Ythe.transverse bore 52, and such rotation is effected lby Y 1a sequencing cam system now to berdescribed. To the outer end of the valve member is secured one end of lever VThe opposite end of Vthe lever is provided with a cam follower extension 84 which is disposed for sliding Contact over the peripheral surface of the sequencing cam 36 secured to shaftV i3. In the embodiment illustrated,

this cam is provided with a pair of inwardly stepped sections SS, 9% which are separated by a projecting tion 92, Y n From nthe foregoing,l it will be apparent that when the cam follower 84 moves from the outwardmost periphery. of the cam S6 inwardly along the step action 88, forsec- Y example, the valve member Sais rotated to the position shown in Figure l, wherein the intermediate cut away section 56 of the valve permits communication between `the inlet bore 4S and theroutlet slot 74.

Glue under pressure from tube Sil thenis expressed l tion of roller i4 85, the cam follower 84 is moved outwardly upon Contact with the projecting section V92. Thus, the valve member 54 is rotated counter-clockwise (Figure l) through a limited arc sufficient to seal the inlet bore 48 from the cut-away section V56, whereby to seal olf the supply of glue tofthe outlet slot 7d. A seo Vond patch of glue is deposited upon the strip l0 as the Vcam follower 34 cllows'into the step section 9i), as will be apparent. Y

Vin the embodiment illustrated, it is to be noted tha the step sections of the cam` are positioned with respect tothe Vcutter blade in such manner that the patches Vof glue SS', 9u (Figure 5) are deposited upon the sections ofA strip V1u closely adjacent and on opposite sides produced by the cutter blade. The length of the grue patches maybe varied, in the embodiment iiiustrated, by the provision of means for adjusting the lengths of the step sections 88, 93 of theY cam 35, Referring particularly to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawinghe cam 85 is provided with a central hub S14, the circumference of which is adapted to support slidably thereon Vthe separate arcuate cam sections 96, 98.

ate slot 109. A pair of set screws lilZ extend through each slot Yfor threaded engagement with the cam 86, and Ythese Afunction to secure the cam sections S6, 98 in desired positions of adjustment relative to the projecting section 92. of sufficient width to engage the peripheral YsurfacesV of the camV 96 Vand also the cam sections 95, .98. Accordingly, the latter cam sections function effectively to regu- Y through the outlet slot and deposited upon the strip 10 ,asthe latter is drawn past the slot. Upon further rota- 'Each of theseV sections is provided with an elongated arcu- As shown in Figure 2, the cam follower S4' is late the lengths of the steps 88,90 and thus control the length of glue patches 88', 9.0'.

It will be apparent that cam 86 may be provided with any desired Ynumber of step sections and that the circumference of the cam may be varied with respect'to the roller 14 to provide diverse numbers and positions of glue patches. Further, the diameter of r-oller 14 and the number of cutter blades 22 may be varied as desired to provide for the production ofV strips 19 of varying lengths.

lnV the operation of the gluing apparatus described hereinbefore, it is to be noted Ythat the cam follower S4 func! tions with precision to actuate the valve member 54,Y

whereby to effect deposit of glue upon the strip lt'with maximum accuracy. Further, by maintaining the strip it) in pressure contact withV the glue applicator extension iL/, by means of t.e resilient springr78, the glue is pre-V vented from seeping out and accumulating on the surfaces of the applicator. Thus the apparatus is maintained in a maximum degree of cleanliness and the requirement for periodic cleaning is reduced to a minimum.

The gluing apparatus of the present invention is adapt- Y able for use with various types of equipment, `and the glue applicating valve may be connected operatively to Vsuch Vequipment for actuation in proper sequence therewith.

The valve may be operated on a rapid cycle, whereby to accommodate gluing operations at high rates of production.

lt will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that var- Y tous modifications and changes in the details of construction described hereinbefore may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is primarily V,illustrative of the invention and is not to be `considered as limiting the scope thereof.

Having now described my invention and the manner in which the same may be used, what I claimV as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: j

ll Apparatus for applying Vglue intermittently to continuously moving material, comprising, Vin combination with continuously movable feed means for said material, glue applicator means positioned adjacent the outfeed path of said material and including an outlet orifice, a

source of glue under pressure, valve means interconnecting said source and outlet orice and movable between open and closed positions for regulating the flow of glue to said orice, valve actuator means connected to said valve means, and timed operating means connected to the Vactuator means and driven by the moving feed means for actuating said valvemeans to open and closed positions intermittently on` a predetermined cycle during continuous movement of the feedy means. Y V

2. Apparatus for applying glue to continuously Vmoving material, comp-rising, in combination with feed means for Asaid material, glue applicator meansepositioned adjacent the outfeed path of said material and including an outletV orifice, a'source of lglueunder pressurev alve .means interconnecting said source and outlet oriticefor regulating the ow ofv glue to said orifice, saidV valve means including a housing having a cylindrical bore transversely intercepting the outlet orifice, a cylindrical rod mounted rotatably in thesaid bore and VVhaving Va Atransverse open section therein aligned with the outlet Y orifice and adapted upon rotation of the rod to open and close the outlet orifice, valve actuator lever means .con-

nected to said valve rods, Vand operating` cam meansV driven by the kfeed means and interconnecting the actuator means and said feed means for actuating said valve rod by the feed means in sequence withV said feed means. Y 3. Apparatus for applying glue intermittently tocon-V tinuously moving material, comprising, in combination with continuously movable feed means for said material, glue Vapplicator means lpositioned adjacent the Voutfeed path of said material and including an outlet orifice,.a Source of 4glue under pressure, valve means interconnecting said source and outlet` orifice and movable between open and closed positions for regulating'the ow of glue to said orifice, cam means operatively connected to and driven by said feed means for simultaneous operation therewith, and cam follower lever means connected to said valve means for operating the latter by the cam, whereby to actuate the valve means to open and closed positions intermittently during continuous movement of said feed means.

4. Apparatus for applying glue intermittently to continuously moving material, comprising, in combination with continuously movable rotary feed means for said material, glue applicator means positioned adjacent the outfeed path of said material and including an outlet orice, a source of glue under pressure, rotary valve means interconnecting said source and outlet, cam means operatively connected to and driven by said rotary feed means for simultaneously operation therewith, and cam follower lever means connected to said rotary valve means for operating the latter by the cam, whereby to actuate the valve means to open and closed positions intermittently during continuous rotation of said feed means.

5. Apparatus for applying glue to a continuously moving strip of material, comprising, in combination with rotary feed means for said material, guide means on the outfeed side of said rotary feed means for guiding said material, glue applicator means positioned adjacent said guide means and including an outlet orifice, resilient pressure exerting means adjacent the guide means on the side of the material opposite the glue applicator means for urging said material into pressure contact with said applicator means adjacent said orifice, a source of glue under pressure, valve means interconnecting said source and outlet orifice for regulating the iiow of -glue to said 6 orifice, valve actuator means connected to said valve means, and timed operating means driven by and synchronously with the feed means and connected to the actuator means for actuating said valve means on a predetermined cycle.

6. Apparatus for applying glue to a `continuously moving strip of material, comprising, in combination with rotary feed means -for said material, guide means on the outfeed side of said rotary feed means for guiding said material, glue applicator means positioned adjacent said guide means and including an outlet orifice, resilient pressure exerting means adjacent the guide means on the side of the material opposite the glue applicator means for urging said material into pressure contact with said applicator means adjacent said orifice, a source of glue under pressure, -rotary valve means interconnecting said source and outlet orifice for regulating the flow of glue to said orifice, cam means operatively connected to and driven by said rotary feed means for simultaneous operation therewith, and camfollower lever means connected to said rotary valve means for operating the latter by the cam, whereby to actuate the valve means in timed sequence with said feed means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,244,015 Barber Oct. 23, 1917 1,796,821 Aldrich et al. Mar. 17, 1931 2,252,432 Klammt Aug. 12, 1941 2,319,476 Ray May 18, 1943 2,341,392 Schreckhise Feb. 8, 1944 

